Insects glucosylation

Few attempts have been made to characterize insect glucosyl-transferases and the reports that do exist are quite equivocal. Thus, in contrast to mammalian glucosyltransferases that are localized in the microsomal fraction of tissue homogenates ( ), those from the housefly, cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and locust (S ch istocerca can ce11 ata) are reported to be associated with the 15,0D0-2O,OOOg pellet (13,14) and that from the tobacco horn-worm (Manduca Sexta) with TRe igh speed supernatant (14). The enzyme has been identified in gut and fat body tissues oT the few insect species studied and may have a fairly broad tissue distribution. 

K. K.A., Cammue, B.P.A. Defensins from insects and plants interact with fungal glucosyl-ceramides. /. Biol. Chem. 2004, 279, 3900-3905... 

The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi, lays a single egg into half-ripe cherries. An oviposition-deterring pheromone, which prevents oviposition by a second female of the same species, was isolated from the feces of the insect. This compound was characterized as A [15(p-glucosyl)oxy-8-hydroxypalmitoyl]-taurine (76) (Fig. 2.30) (Hurter et al., 1987). 

Robinia pseudacacia resulted in accumulation of free fructose and oligosaccharides containing principally glucose residues. Transfructosidases have also been found in both plant nectar and insect viscera. A trans-glucosidase with specificity different from the other enzymes described occurs in honeydew and manna formed by certain insects. This enzyme is produced by the insects, not the plant, and transfers glucosyl groups to the 3-position of the fructose of sucrose. ... 

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